Stages of Decomposition

Which of the following best describes rigor mortis?

• It is the pooling of blood after death

• It is the stiffening of muscles after death

• It is the cooling of the body after death

• It is the warming of the body after death

Rigor mortis and the reversal of rigor mortis always progresses ...

• from the face downward.

• from the limbs inward.

• from the legs upward.

• from the chest outward.

Which of the following best describes algor mortis?

• It is the cooling of the body after death

• It is the warming of the body after death

• It is the pooling of the blood after death

• It is the stiffening of the muscles after death

Select all that applies to livor mortis.

• It is the stiffening of the muscles after death

• It causes the color change of the body after death

• It is the pooling of blood after death

• It is the cooling of the body after death

Name the process in which bacteria from the digestive system begin to dissolve the body from the inside out. In the process, gases are released by the bacteria which leads the body to bloat.

• Decomposition

• Decay

• Autolysis

• Putrefaction

Put the stages of decomposition in order.

I. Active Decay

II. Dry Remains

III. Fresh / Initial Decay

IV. Advanced Decay

V. Bloat / Putrefaction

• III, I, IV, V, II

• III, V, I, IV, II

• II, III, V, I, IV

• III, II, I, IV, V

In which stage of decay does purge fluid leak out of the body and create a cadaver decomposition island?

• Active Decay

• Advanced Decay

• Bloat / Putrefaction

• Fresh / Initial Dacay

In which stage of decomposition does autolysis take place as well as livor, algor, and rigor mortis?

• Active Decay

• Advanced Decay

• Bloat / Putrefaction

• Fresh / Initial Decay

The corpse bloats

• 0-10 days

• After 15 Days

• after 10 days

• 25-50 days

The skin sloughs off

• Within 2 Days

• After 12 Days

• Within 4-7 Days